Reflector apparatus



March 29, 1949. EASTMAN 2,465,519

REFLECTOR APPARATUS 1 Filed July 6, 1946 Patented Mar. 29, 1949BEFLEGTOR APPARATUS Fred L. Eastman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to CompcoCorporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July6, 1946, Serial No. 681,706

3 Claims.

This invention relates to reflector apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide means for supporting areflector by means which will provide an effective balance for the samewhereby it will tend to retain its normal position and may be adjustedquickly to other desired positions. A further object is to provide areflector structure in which the reflector is supported by means of auniversal joint located at the center of gravity of the reflector unitwith the lamp and cord attached. Yet another object is to provide newand effective means for mounting a reflector upon a support structureand with means for adjusting the position of the reflector with respectthereto. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in preferred embodiments, by theaccompanying drawing, in which-- Figure 1 is a broken rear view inelevation of reflector structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a sideview in elevation; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the bracket supportstructure employed; and, Fig. 4, a broken and partly sectional viewshowing a modified form of structure embodying my invention.

In the illustration given, I6 designates a reflector which may be of anysuitable type or construction. The reflector I is provided with arearwardly extending socket sleeve. Extending about the sleeve I I andat its forward end is shown a pair of clamping members I2 securedtogether at their top by the bolt I3 and at their bottoms havingoutwardly turned flanges I4.

A bracket member I5 has a horizontal flange I6 provided with a slotthrough which the lower legs of the members I2 extend and the platformI6 rests upon the horizontal flanges i i of the members I2. With thisstructure, the bracket I5 is supported rigidly and without angularmovement under strain so as to provide a sturdy support for thereflector Ill. The bracket I5 extends downwardly and forwardly and isprovided at its end with a leg I7 provided with a ball I8.

Any suitable means for securing the reflector in position may beemployed. In the illustration given, I provide a spring member I9equipped at its lower ends with clamping legs 26 adapted to engage anysupporting surface. The upper end of the spring member I9 is providedwith a coil 2|.

Between the ball I8 and the support I9, I provide the clamping members22 which are secured together by the adjustable bolts 23. The members 22are each provided with a socket portion 24 adapted to receive the ballI8 and with a clamping jaw 25 adapted to engage the coil 2I of thesupport member I9.

I prefer to employ a support bracket I5 of such length that the ball I8is maintained at the center of gravity of the reflector unit with thelamp and cord attached thereto. Such center of gravity can be readilyfound when the parts are in position and the reflector It! is turned tothe position indicated in Fig. 2 where the longitudinal axis of thereflector is in a substantially horizontal line. Should a heavier lampbe used or should the socket and lamp cord be changed with acorresponding change in Weight, the balance can be recovered by shiftingthe members l2 along the sleeve I I to the position at which the ball I8lies at the center of gravity of the assembled unit.

In the operation of the structure, the clamp member I9 is pressedinwardly to separate the jaws 2i! and then released when they are inengagement with a supporting surface. With the reflector unit mounted sothat its center of gravity is coincident with the ball I8, the reflectormay be supported in balance and may be readily tilted to any otherdesired position during the use of the structure. Tightening of the bolt23 may be employed as desired to render the frictional grip upon ball I8sufficiently tight. Should the balance of the unit be changed throughthe substitution of another lamp or other parts, movement of the membersI2 along the sleeve II can be readily made upon loosening bolt I3 andthen tightening it after the adjusted position brings the ball i8 at thecenter of gravity of the unit structure.

The bracket I5 is held rigidly in position because of the pressure ofsleeve II outwardly against the wide bands I2 and because the platformit is gripped and held by the outwardly turned flanges I4.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the reflector 26 is provided withan opening 21 and the ball member 28 is equipped with a flange 29 andthe neck 32 extending through the opening 21. The neck 30 may be swagedto form a head BI for locking the ball 28 in position. Preferably thelocation of the opening 27 is such that the ball 28 may be maintained atthe center of gravity of the assembled unit.

It will be understood that other means may be provided for providing asupport at the center of gravity of the unit and also for providingadjustment of the universal joint to positions to which the center ofgravity may be shifted.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set 3 forth certain detailsof structure for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it will be understood that such details may be modifiedwidely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

I claim:

1. In reflector apparatus, a reflector body equipped with arearwardly-extending socket sleeve, a pair of arcuate members securedtogether at their upper end and provided at their lower ends withoutwardly-extending wings, a metal bar having a slot therein receivingsaid wing portions and having a horizontal platform resting upon saidwings, said bar having a down,- wardly-curved body following thecurvature of the reflector body, a ball supported by said bar at aboutthe balance point of said reflector body, and clamping attachment meansproviding a releasable universal seat receiving said ball.

2. In reflector apparatus, a reflector body equipped with a rearwardlyextending socket sleeve, a ring slidably engaging said sleeve andequipped with lower ends extending outwardly to form supporting flanges,a metal bar having a slot therein receiving said ring and resting uponsaid flanges whereby said bar is supported against tilting upon saidring, said bar having a downwardly curved body generally following thecurvature of the reflector body, a ball supported by said bar at thelower end thereof, and a clamping attachment providing a releasableuniversal seat receiving said ball. a

3. In reflector apparatus, a reflector body equipped with a rearwardlyextending socket sleeve, a wide band ring receiving said sleeve andadapted to be clamped there-about in slideable relation, a metal barcarried by said band for slideable movement toward and away from saidreflector body, said bar having a downwardly curved body following thegeneral curvature of said reflector body, a ball supported by said barat its lower end, and a clamping attachment means providing a releasableuniversal seat receiving said ball.

FRED L. EASTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date lei-8,359 Nichols Mar. 17, 18911,562,994 Stewart Nov. 24, 1925 2,150,542 Cook Mar. 14, 1939

